CASE-REPORT - REVERSIBLE GASTROPARESIS IN PATIENTS WITH HYPOPITUITARYDISEASE

A 72-year-old woman with chronic fatigue, malaise, weight loss, nausea , and vomiting was treated unsuccessfully for gastroparesis for more t han 2 years. Clinical and biochemical features of hypopituitary diseas e and symptoms of a nonsecreting pituitary tumor had been overlooked a nd became apparent only after the differential diagnosis of hyponatrem ia was considered, Transsphenoidal resection of the pituitary tumor an d appropriate l-thyroxine and hydrocortisone replacement returned her gastric emptying time to normal and relieved her symptoms. Primary and secondary deficits of l-thyroxine and cortisol should be considered w hen making a possible diagnosis of gastroparesis.